Started out from our motel just after 8am. Fine drizzle had started and temperature in the low 20s this morning so We soon crossed the Mississippi River and were now in the State of Mississippi and as the sign on the bridge said the home of American music. No sign of Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn on the bridge - so we pressed on.
Our track took us onto some narrow sealed roads between huge fields of crops. Soon we caught up to a convoy of around six to eight massive harvesters. We followed them for a couple of miles at around 5mph then luckily our route directed us down a different road. Now we were on straight gravel roads between hundreds of acres of various crops cruising along in a light drizzle which was to last a couple of hours.
After the crop fields we were in some very scenic forest on forestry roads/trails which was really enjoyable riding. After a few miles we met another TAT the opposite way on a fully laden Honda Africa twin. We had a chat for 5 minutes and he
told us he had started in Ohio, was riding by himself and had had a few offs. He said being alone sometimes, to pick his bike up after a spill he has unload it.but he seemed happy enough. He gave us a heads up about a track that we were to cross in about 10 miles with some deep washouts to watch out for.
Around a mile after we left him we met another solo TAT rider on a DR650 Suzuki. Maybe they will join up and help each other pick up each others bikes!!!
More gravel roads winding through spectacular forest. Many areas very pretty with avenues of trees, no traffic, but by now the rain had stopped and we were starting to experience some dusty conditions. Temperatures now up around 30 degrees so a couple of stops to remove a few layers of clothing and open air vents in our riding gear.
Just after we had done the trail with the washouts we had been warned about, the track took us up onto a levee which went for quite a few miles –seems to be efficient flood control as the crop fields on
one side dry and the river flowed on the other side of the levee. I guess they pump irrigation water from the river as required.
Exiting this levee trail we came to the Tallahatchie bridge. Previously riding into Helena we had crossed the Choctaw river. If youre old enough you may remember Bobbie Gentrys hit song (1967) Ode to Billie Joe. See the lyrics below - both places are mentioned.
After crossing the Tallahachie we stopped at a diner for a coffee. We had a lost in translation moment when I said to the guy behind the counter - 3 coffees and a fanta thanks. English aint necessarily English. He had no idea what I was saying until his managed to translate for him!. When we left the diner she called out to me back & see us now yhear.I think.
More Trails/roads through forests and as there had been some recent rain here the dust was not too bad. Generally the gravel roads were in ok condition with the odd patch of soft sand to keep you alert. The sealed roads in a lot of places were falling to bits with
potholes and many in corners so no relaxing. We passed more Whitetail deer – some thought it was good sport to dive across the road in front of you, as they do. We passed some free range pigs and saw some huge eagles or hawks with wing spans nearly as big as the Condors we had seen in South America.
Throughout these forest areas were small settlements with some really nice house with beautifully manicured gardens often next door to a trailer home. This state seems to have lots of trailer homes, many are nicely kept with nice gardens and then there are few interspersed with these that have a yard full of junk and wrecked cars. Quite a mixture although you still see old refurbished mansions and also new ones built in the old style. Some of the places were that big you would need an army of staff to run them. Still it is Gone with The Wind country. No sign of Rhett Butler or Miss Ellie.
